Math Charmers: Tantalizing Tidbits for the Mind [Paperback]

Alfred S. Posamentier (Author), Herbert A. Hauptman (Foreword)

Book Description

ISBN-10: 1591020670 | ISBN-13: 978-1591020677 | Publication Date: May 2003

We should all be having fun with math and helping our kids to do better in life by encouraging them to appreciate not only its usefulness but especially its charm. That's just what Posamentier sets out to do in this delightful exploration of maths' many intriguing, interesting, and fun qualities. This is the ideal book for adults looking for a way to turn their kids on to an important subject or discover for themselves what they might have missed in their own math education.

Editorial Reviews

Review

"Designed as a combat to math phobias, this guide tells how to make math intriguing and fun." -- The Bookwatch, Midwest Book Review library newsletter, June 2004

"For a book that intends to convey the nature of pure mathematics, Posamentier's is far superior to many...highly recommended." -- Choice, December 2003

About the Author

Alfred Posamentier is dean of the School of Education and professor of mathematics at the City College of the City University of New York. He has published over thirty-five books in the area of mathematics and mathematics education, including MATH WONDERS TO INSPIRE TEACHERS AND STUDENTS.

Product Details

• Paperback: 301 pages
• Publisher: Prometheus Books (May 2003)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 1591020670
• ISBN-13: 978-1591020677
• Product Dimensions: 9 x 6 x 0.6 inches
• Shipping Weight: 12.8 ounces (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 4.0 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (7 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #624,993 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

More About the Author

Alfred S. Posamentier (River Vale, NJ) is the dean of the School of Education and professor of mathematics education at Mercy College in Dobbs Ferry, NY. He was formerly the dean of the School of Education and professor of mathematics education at the City College of New York. He has published over forty-five books in the area of mathematics and mathematics education, including The Pythagorean Theorem: The Story of Its Power and Beauty; Math Charmers: Tantalizing Tidbits for the Mind; and (with Ingmar Lehmann) Mathematical Amazements and Surprises; The Fabulous Fibonacci Numbers; and Pi: A Biography of the World's Most Mysterious Number.

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

13 of 13 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars This is a nice book, but..., January 13, 2006

By 

John F. Piacenza "HS Math Teacher" (Watertown, CT USA) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

Amazon Verified Purchase

This review is from: Math Charmers: Tantalizing Tidbits for the Mind (Paperback)

I really like this book. It contains a high concentration of nice math demonstrations. It is appropriate for students as young as 11 or 12, although such young students might not understand all of the concepts, and it is great for high school aged students who are looking for interesting little tidbits that are different from their usual course work. It is also a good book for adults who like math.
However, it virtually identical to the author's other book "Math Wonders". It makes absolutely no sense to buy them both - they are the same nearly word for word. Amazon should not be pairing the two together in a package deal.

8 of 9 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars A nicely done book on math factoids and problem solving, June 1, 2004

By A Customer

This review is from: Math Charmers: Tantalizing Tidbits for the Mind (Paperback)

*Math Charmers* is a nicely done book dealing with various facts about mathematics. I want to emphasize that these facts are presented in a problem-solving format (i.e., a question is posed and the solution is provided). The best way to learn about math is to solve problems, thus Posamentier's format works well in striving toward his stated goal.

Posamentier has written several excellent books on math education that, like this book, emphasizes the problem-solving approach. *Math Charmers* is his foray (I think) into the 'pop-math' genre and I think he did a fine job here.

I wanted to briefly address the one negative review thus far: Yes, it does have some sections that can be found elsewhere, but anyone can say that about any other pop-math book. So that sort of criticism in it of itself is hardly a useful (or original, ironically) observation. The real issue is whether *Math Charmers* provides any new ideas and insights as well as handling the old favorites in a useful manner. This book suceeds on both counts.

5 of 6 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars I'm Charmed, January 6, 2005

By 

Gertrude Mossman (USA) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Math Charmers: Tantalizing Tidbits for the Mind (Paperback)

Math has never been my strongest subject, but this book makes it absolutely fascinating! Posamentier is engaging and delightfully charms his readers with wonderful math puzzles. This book taught me more about math than I ever expected to learn. Quite the introduction to beauty and excitement of math!